Redwood City, California

Overview

Introduction to Redwood City, California

The suburban community of Redwood City is located in the Bay Area of northern California, approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco and 27 miles north of San Jose. The county seat of San Mateo County, Redwood City extends from the hillsides of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the San Francisco Bay shoreline. U.S. Highway 101 runs through the city, and Interstate-280 is easily accessible.

Redwood City History

Incorporated as a city in 1867, Redwood City derived its name from the large quantity of timber that had regularly been hauled out from its waterfront (the only deep water port in the bay south of San Francisco itself). In the 1920s, the city's Real Estate Board and Chamber of Commerce each sponsored contests to find a slogan which would capture and publicize the city's finest qualities. The resulting slogan "Climate Best By Government Test" referred to a series of obscure climatological surveys conducted by the United States and German governments prior to World War I, during which Redwood City was found to be at the center of one of the world's three best climates (the others being The Canary Islands and the Mediterranean Coast of North Africa).

Redwood City was home to the famous trial of Scott Peterson, who was housed at the San Mateo County jail. This facility, the most secure in the Bay Area, was also used in 1976 to hold Patty Hearst (granddaughter of legendary newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst), who made national headlines when she participated in a series of crimes conducted by a radical group, the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), which had previously kidnapped her.

Events and Attractions in Redwood City

Redwood City is fast becoming a major entertainment destination in the Bay Area. Some of the city's events include: Independence Day Parade, held continuously since 1939 and billed as "The largest Independence Day Parade in California"; the Stafford Park Concert Series; the Cañada College Arts and Olive Festival; the Redwood City Kiwanis Farmers Market; the Fair Oaks Community Center Anniversary Celebration; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. "Freedom Festival." City landmarks include the San Mateo County Historical Museum and the Union Cemetery.

Less than a half-hour away is the city of San Francisco and its large array of attractions, which include:

Museum of Modern Art.

Alcatraz.

Embarcadero Center.

Golden Gate Bridge.

Wells Fargo History Museum.

Chinatown.

Ferry Building Marketplace.

Fisherman's Wharf.

Nob Hill.

Cable Car Museum.

San Francisco Zoo.

Ghirardelli Square.

San Francisco professional sports teams include: NFL's San Francisco 49'ers (which up until the mid-1990s used to hold its workout practices at Red Morton Park in Redwood City); baseball's San Francisco Giants; the NBA's Golden State Warriors; and the Major League Lacrosse entry, the San Francisco Dragons.

Pro teams located in San Jose include: Minor League Baseball's San Jose Giants (the Single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants); Arena Football's San Jose SaberCats; and the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks.

Are you an official in the Redwood City government or quasi-government agency such as the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau or economic development council? If so, visit our information page for government officials to see how CityTownInfo can support you.